Nightlife
When the sun goes down, the Santa Ana nightlife scene lights up. This vibrant city is home to numerous venues — from breweries and bars to clubs, theaters, and more endlessly entertaining hangout spots – offering fun after dark.
Breweries, Distilleries & Bars in Santa Ana, CA
Beer lovers will want to check out Santa Ana breweries, including the first of its kind in the city, Cerveza Cito Brewery, which offers something for every palate. Try the Tepache Sour, a crisp pineapple sour beer with a hint of habanero as an added kick. Those who aren’t huge beer fans can try picks like the SeltzerCation, a piña colada flavored hard seltzer that tastes like a tropical vacation. The brewery is situated inside a downtown historic brick building and offers plenty of indoor and outdoor seating options. The relaxed spot hosts a regular lineup of engaging events like trivia nights and karaoke for brewery-goers to enjoy.
For those who seek a no-frills bar experience, head to Mission Bar, which prides itself on its operation of serving fair-priced, local craft beers (here, “happy hour” isn’t just for weekdays – it’s every day) in a welcoming setting. It feels like a friendly hometown dive bar filled with locals. When the DJ isn’t spinning tunes, bar-goers can use the jukebox to crank up the music while playing a friendly (but competitive) game of pool.
Spirits fans should go to Blinking Owl Distillery, which broke barriers in Santa Ana as Orange County’s first distillery. They’re known for making high quality bourbon, rye, aquavit, gin, and vodka — all on-site. It’s open to visitors for tours, tastings, and tasty bar bites and is a fantastic, casual spot to meet up with friends for a drink with a lively but laid-back atmosphere.
Travel the world through Vacation Bar’s lineup of food and cocktails inspired by global destinations, like New York City, Spain, and Thailand, among others. The bar setting cures your wanderlust with tropical-themed decor and lush indoor plants.
The Yost – Classic by Day, Club By Night
Anchored in the heart of Santa Ana’s historic district, The Yost has been a pillar of Santa Ana’s downtown entertainment scene since 1912. Today, the venue serves as an elegant events space by day — and by nightfall from Friday through Sunday, the landmark building turns into a buzzy 18-and-over dance club. Dancers can vibe to a diverse lineup of talented DJs spinning live music in various genres ranging from reggaeton to banda, pop, and EDM.
Santa Ana, CA, Attractions
The Observatory OC is a large but intimate space offering stellar views from anywhere in the audience. This spot regularly hosts a lineup of fantastic live music artists — both well-known and on-the-rise — as well as a range of dance and performing arts competitions.
At the historic Frida Cinema, named after the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, you’ll experience an indie-feeling vintage arthouse where the typical entertainment eclectic offerings vary by season. Frida hosts a lineup of showings of cult classics movies, film festival favorites, and never-before-seen local projects.
